Twisted (3 page)

Kevin scowled. “Is that normal?”

“No,” Tina said. “That’s why I’m so worried.”

“When was the last time you heard from him?”

“Around ten last night. He came home, ate dinner, and went into the den to watch the news. I went up to shower and to get ready for bed, but when he didn’t show up by midnight, I went to sleep.”

“Stupid fellow,” Kevin replied.

“What?” Tina asked.

“Nothing,” Kevin said, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t you try calling him?”

Tina pulled her phone out and dialed Erik’s phone. This time, he answered.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?”

“I had a couple of stops to make.”

“I was worried when you weren’t there when I woke up,” Tina told him. “What time did you leave?”

“Early,” he said. “I didn’t want to disturb you. I just have to stop at the bank and then I’ll be there.”

“Okay, but next time call and let me know something.”

“Okay,” he said.

“Come on, Erik,” a female voice said in the background.

“Who is that?” Tina asked.

“Look, I have to go,” Erik replied. “I’ll see you at work.” He disconnected the call.

Tina looked down at her cell phone, pushed the red button, and then put it back in her pocket. “He’s on his way,” she told Kevin.

Kevin didn’t ask a question. He just nodded. “Well, I’m glad he’s alive. I better get to my office and get some work done.”

“Okay,” Tina said.

“Are you coming to class tonight?”

Tina nodded. “I live for it.”

Kevin smiled and walked in the direction of his office.

Alexis eased her way over. “You found him?”

Tina nodded. “Yes, he’s on his way.”

“Where is he?”

“He didn’t say,” Tina replied, refusing to allow Alexis to play on her emotions. Right now, things were pretty messed up in her head. Who was the woman in the background on Erik’s phone, and what was so important that he had to leave home before dawn and miss half a day’s work?

“Well, he better hurry,” Alexis replied. “His phone has been ringing off the hook all morning.”

Tina smiled weakly, turned on her heel, and headed for her office. She was sure that Erik would have a good explanation for everything. He usually did.

Chapter Two

Damn woman always checking up on me.  Who the hell does she think she is
? Erik drove away from the bank and headed toward the office.
Sometimes she acts like she owns me. Hell, I’m a grown man and I don’t have to answer to anyone
.

Erik drove down Fifty-Ninth Street and entered the parking lot of the building, going up seven floors until he drove into his assigned parking spot. He turned off the engine and got out, pulling his jacket out of the front passenger seat where he’d tossed it after Shanna got out.

Shanna, he deduced, was another problem. Talk about high-maintenance. He’d already paid her rent, her cable and water bills, and now she was hitting him up for money to get her hair and nails done. That was one thing he could say about Tina, she never asked him for anything. She had a giving, caring nature, but she could get a bit clingy. Just because they lived and worked together didn’t mean he owed her an explanation for everything he did.

Erik closed the door of his BMW, noticing how the paint was starting to fade. Tina had purchased the car for him about two years ago and he figured it was time to see if he could talk her into buying him this sweet little Maybach ‘57 he’d seen at the dealership a couple of days ago. He wanted it in candy apple red and the price was a steal at three hundred thousand dollars. He chuckled. That was pocket change for someone like Tina.

Erik headed toward the elevator and stepped inside once it arrived. He rode up to the twelfth floor of the building and exited. He’d also talk to her about assigning him a better parking spot. Hell, she owned the building. Why couldn’t he have the vacant and bigger executive spot next to hers?  He entered the main building, walked down the hall to the administration office, and entered.

The office was busy with activity, as usual. Alexis had a phone glued to her ear and the rest of the clerks were manning the phones and on their computers. Alexis looked over in his direction, rolled her eyes at him, and then went back to her conversation.

Erik ignored her. He didn’t like her, had never liked her, and couldn’t wait for Tina to fire her, which he knew would never happen since the two of them were childhood friends. He walked past them and headed for his office. A tall Asian man passed him.
A new employee
? Wait, no.
It’s the designer, Kevin Chen
.
What is he doing here
? Erik watched the man walk over toward Alexis.
Is that her new man now?
He wondered.
Or is he here on business?
He knew Tina was trying to talk him into joining her on another project. He didn’t really know the man, but had heard some great things about him. Rumor said that he was rich and in demand. Erik sighed and continued toward his office. One day, rumor would be saying the same thing about him.

The first thing to catch his attention was the red message light on his desk phone. Erik hung his jacket on a hook and then sat down in his leather chair. He looked down at his calendar. He had a meeting with a client at one and then he had to attend Tina’s weekly staff meeting at three. Other than that, his schedule was pretty free.

He lifted the telephone receiver and punched in a code to access his messages. There was one from a client and two from Shanna wanting to know if he got the money for her hair and nails. Damn, he’d just left her. Did she think he had time to double back and bring the money to her? It was bad enough he snuck out of the house to be with her this morning and had Tina worried about him. And he knew Tina had heard Shanna’s voice in the background of his phone. Any other woman would have cursed him out, but not mild-mannered, even-tempered Tina. She wasn’t the type to make a scene and she’d already forgiven his other little indiscretions. He’d make it right with Tina if she inquired about Shanna. He’d promise that it would never happen again and Tina would forgive him.

Erik erased the messages, pulled out the business card for the car dealership, and scheduled an appointment to meet with them after work. He wanted to bring Tina along, but she had some kind of class scheduled. That didn’t matter. He’d just get the paperwork started and bring her along later to pay the bill.

****

Tina kept expecting Erik to come into her office before lunch, but he never put in an appearance. Lunch time arrived and Alexis stuck her head into the door.

“I’m going out for lunch. Would you like to come with me?”

“I can’t,” Tina said. “I’ve got a few calls to make and then I’m meeting with Kevin.”

“The man works across the hall now,” Alexis replied. “You don’t have to schedule play time with him.”

“Yes, I know, but I have the staff meeting scheduled for three.”

“Okay, I understand that you’re busy. So why don’t I just order Chinese food for us? That way you can work and eat at the same time.”

“Sound great,” Tina said. “You’re an angel.”

Alexis waved to her and left.

Tina pulled out her tablet and began jotting down notes for her meeting with Kevin. She had a pretty good idea what she wanted to invent for their joint endeavor, but she also wanted to hear what he might have in mind. So far, both of them had become successful with their inventions, but she wanted to try something new…something that would aid society and not just make the company an obscene amount of money just because it had her name attached to it.

Alexis popped her head back into the door. “The food is on its way and I just wanted to remind you not to make any plans for tomorrow after lunch because we have appointments at the beauty salon.”

“Ooh, thanks for reminding me,” Tina said. “I almost forgot. My roots could use a bit of touching up.”

Alexis waved again and left.

What is wrong with me? I’m getting so forgetful lately
. Tina pulled out her cell phone, accessed her calendar, and was about to log in the hair appointment when she spotted it already there. Apparently, she’d just started losing her mind in the last month or so. She put her cell phone away and went back to her notes. Besides wanting to invent a new toy for Christmas, Tina also wanted to invent some helpful household gadget. The market was already inundated with these products, so she had to come up with something unique. She looked down at her watch.
Noon
. She pulled out her organizer and started making phone calls and answering email. Everybody wanted something. Sometimes, she wished she could clone herself so she could meet all the obligations she had with charities and social events. Her calendar was chocked with personal appearance requests and she still needed to put in some face time with her other companies. Someone knocked at her door about a half hour later. “Come in,” she said.

Kevin entered brandishing a sketch pad, his cell phone, and a tablet for taking notes.

“Am I too early?” he asked.

Tina rose. “No, you’re right on time. I just finished with phone calls and email.”

“Good,” he said.

“Have you had lunch?” she asked.

Kevin shook his head. “I’ve been too busy to stop.”

“Good,” Tina said. “Alexis has sent out for Chinese food. We can have lunch together and not be disturbed.”

“I’d like that,” he said.

She showed him over to the other side of the room where she had a drafting table and a dry erase board set up for them to use.  “How are you adjusting to your first day?”

“It hasn’t been so bad,” Kevin confessed. “Most of the employees are nice and some have been very helpful.”

“Let me guess, the young ladies from administration?”

Kevin nodded. “And a few of the female designers and production managers.”

Tina chuckled. “It will all calm down as soon as the newness wears off. You’re the first male employee we’ve had in a long time, and of course, you have that Bruce Lee thing going for you.”

“What Bruce Lee thing?” Kevin asked curiously.

“You know. You’re a good-looking Asian with some serious muscles pushing out from under that jacket,” Tina teased.

“Have you ever seen Bruce Lee in a suit?” Kevin asked. “I bet you’ve never seen one of his movies. What were you, not even born during his heyday?”

“I have to seen some of his movies,” Tina said with a playful pout. “
Enter the Dragon
.” She struck an attack pose.

Kevin fell into the silly groove with her and posed. They were both giggling when Alexis knocked on the door, delivering their lunch.

“Come in,” Tina said, still chuckling.

Alexis entered carrying a bag of small white boxes and utensils. “What are the two of you doing? I haven’t heard this kind of laughter out of Tina in ever,” she said.

Tina smoothed out her suit and tried to wipe away her smile.

Kevin slid his glasses up his nose and feint innocence. “Tina was just impressing me with her knowledge of ancient martial arts movies.”

Alexis placed the food on the table.

“Who are you expecting to eat all of this?” Tina asked as she began opening containers.

“You two,” Alexis announced. “I didn’t know what Kevin liked so I ordered a sampling of everything.”

“I’m not choosy,” Kevin said. “But this is a lot of food for three people.”

“Two,” Alexis corrected. “My lunch is on my desk.”

“You won’t be joining us?” Kevin asked.

“No. How can the two of you get down to business with me here?”

“Huh?” Tina asked.

Kevin cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I supposed you’re right. Tina and I have a lot of work to do.”

Tina didn’t miss the little eye play between Alexis and Kevin.
Are they flirting with each other
?

“Bye, you two,” Alexis said. “See you later for the staff meeting.”

Kevin bowed to her and Alexis finally left. “The two of you seem like great friends.”

“We have our moments,” Tina said, dishing some food onto paper plates and placing one in front of Kevin.

“Thank you,” he said, accepting the food.

Their fingers touched.
Damn, he has soft skin
.

Kevin looked down at his hand, smiled, and then looked away.

Tina removed her hand, fixed her own plate, and sat down next to him.

Kevin said the blessing over the meal, broke apart a pair of chopsticks, and handed them to Tina.

“You can’t be serious?” she asked. “I’ll waste food all over my clothes.”

“Practice makes perfect,” Kevin told her. “You will need to learn for our trip to Taiwan.”

Tina smirked at him. “So what have you been working on?”

Kevin broke apart another pair of wooden chopsticks, placed them on the table, and got up to get his sketch book. He placed it on the table in front of her.

Tina flipped through some of the pages. “Ooh, I like this.”

“I thought you might,” Kevin said.

She flipped another page. “This one isn’t bad either.” He’d come up with a couple new educational toys for both boys and girls. “Ooh, what is this?”

“A house,” Kevin replied, looking over at the sketch pad.

“It’s beautiful, but don’t you think it’s just a little too much for a little girl?”

Kevin chuckled. “Yes, but it’s not for a little girl. It’s for me. It’s my dream home.”

Tina looked the sketch over. It was truly beautiful right down to the landscaping. The drawing contained a lush green Japanese garden complete with stepping stones, and the house was nestled amongst cherry trees. The architecture of the house had a combination of western and Asian features that only he could come up with. It had a comfortable feel to it, like one could spend the rest of his or her life there and never grow tired of it.  “How many bedrooms?”

“Three,” Kevin answered. “It also has three baths and a fully operational kitchen, complete with a wok.” He flipped the page. “This is where I plan to build my exercise area, and next to it will be the swing set.”

Tina looked at him curiously. “Aren’t you too big for a swing set?”